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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Natalia/Natalie/Natalya…

32 replies

RattlingRaccoon · 14/01/2026 21:54

What do you think? Trying to decide whether we like any of the above. DH prefers Natalie, I prefer Natalia/Natalya but not sure on spelling…

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Melsy88 · 17/01/2026 09:24

Talia is a name in is own right if that's an option? I quite like it as a full name.

spilltheteapot · 17/01/2026 09:07

I think Natalie is the better of the two, but only if you live where the T will be pronounced.
Be prepared for the nn to be Nat or Nats, although I know a Natalie who is nn Tilly.
Natalya / Natalia is a bit rough to me, sorry. It screams shiny puffer coat. The nn Talia is also not to my taste.

YourWinter · 17/01/2026 09:02

Natalie is a lovely name. Natalia and, especially, Natalya, have too much of an Eastern European look (I used to work with a large cohort of Lithuanians).

ReturnToRiding · 17/01/2026 09:00

I would pronounce Natalia differently to Natalya so choose the sound you like not the spelling

AndresyFiorella · 17/01/2026 08:55

I really like all 3. I've found kids don't tend to shorten names any more (secondary school teacher), so no need to worry about shortening s if you don't want to use one. Natalia is definitely more on trend, Natalie was very fashionable in the 80s so has more of a retro feel. I've taught some of both. People tend to pronounce Natalia Nat-ah-lia, but if the child insists on Nat-a-lia their friends will learn.

notallymcbeal · 17/01/2026 00:26

I have a Natalie, always thought her nn would be Tilly - from school onwards she’s been Nat, you have no choice in nicknames once they’re out in the world.

Alexandrine · 17/01/2026 00:12

Natalia sounds exotic, possibly Eastern European (although I don’t think you need any such links to use it). Natalie sounds more commonplace - like a couple of my school friends in the 80’s (but it’s not too dated - it’s no Nicola, Gemma, Leanne etc).

Both are pretty, although I’m less keen on the more usual nn Nat. For that reason, I prefer the given name Thalia/Talia over both of them - but if you can’t sell DH on that then personally I’d go for Natalia.

Btw I pronounce them quite differently- Natalie is “Nat -ah -lee”, Natalia is “Nah - tahl- yah” (although I’m less keen on the look of the more phonetic Natalya spelling).

Foggytree · 16/01/2026 20:05

Natalie ! Great name

MrsKateColumbo · 16/01/2026 20:02

(Correct me if im wring pls!) Natalie is a diminutive if Natalia so you could go for Natalia and call her Natalie if it suits. Beautiful name!

DemonsandMosquitoes · 16/01/2026 19:59

Natalie. My favourite girls name forever.

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 16/01/2026 13:53

I like Natalie and Natalia! they’re both lovely! :)

user2848502016 · 16/01/2026 12:32

Natalia for me, very pretty

localnotail · 16/01/2026 12:24

Also, in Russlan "talia" means "waist". Hence rhyming joke re "my Natalia with wide talia")))

..a little Russian lesson for you here.

localnotail · 16/01/2026 12:19

Natasha is short/ informal version of Natalia. Its a very common, wide spread and boring Russian name. At one time, in Türkiye all Russian girls were referred to as "Natasha" - that's how common it is.

Laplandsnow · 16/01/2026 12:17

Natalia
what a gorgeous name. I love talia! X

ShetlandishMum · 16/01/2026 12:02

I prefer Nathalie.

miniaturepixieonacid · 16/01/2026 12:01

I really like them both but Natalie is my favourite.

Talia is nicer than Tally though.

Sorry - I'm unhelpful!

Original poster
RattlingRaccoon · 15/01/2026 13:07

25mini7 · 15/01/2026 12:28

I like Natasha

Sorry we both really don’t like Natasha! Never met one I’ve liked, unfortunately

Thanks for the feedback everyone, lots to think about…

OP posts:
25mini7 · 15/01/2026 12:28

I like Natasha

TheeNotoriousPIG · 15/01/2026 12:23

Rather unhelpfully, I like them all, providing that you live in an area where the letter T exists. A cousin called Natalie, who lives in an area where T is extinct, has it pronounced as, "Nah-uh-li", which I am somewhat less keen on!

I think that, in the UK at least, Natalia is usually pronounced as, "Nat-ah-lee-ah".

CrostaDiPizza · 15/01/2026 08:52

Thalia, Nataliya or Natalia.
Nataiie will be Na-uh-ly.

not even sure how I would pronounce it tbh
DH isn’t sure, he doesn’t like shortened names
Pick something else.

BCBird · 15/01/2026 08:11

Natalie- no confusion re pronunciation. The problem is with the other two is your child would be constantly correcting people- annoying all round.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 15/01/2026 08:11

Natalia/Natalya is pronounced Na-TAH-lee-a.

Original poster
RattlingRaccoon · 15/01/2026 08:07

Thanks all! Would you pronounce Nat-are-lee-ah or Nat-ah-lee-ah…I don’t mind either way, and maybe we should let people choose (?!) but not even sure how I would pronounce it tbh

OP posts:
CoffeeBeansGalore · 15/01/2026 07:49

Natalia is lovely. Talia & Lia are nice diminutives as well.